Here in Australia I've actually voted Greens since 2000, and even handed out how to vote cards for the last 2 federal, and 1 state election but I won't be doing either again soon, because under their current leadership, the Greens become trapped in the thought-world of identity politics. I find this somewhat ironic, because former Greens leader Bob Brown himself was gay, but he never made a big issue out of it. Yet now, everything the Greens come up with is modelled on third-wave feminism, critical theory, open borders globalism, and cultural Marxism... and invariably results in them calling their opponents racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobia, misogynist, xenophobic, Islamophobic etc.

Similarly, when I voted that way, it was primarily on economic grounds, specifically in terms of appropriate and progressive taxation, and using that funding for the basic building blocks of a functional society - things like schools and tertiary education, the health sector (both physical and mental), aged care, public transport infrastructure, and good public planning. The Greens of old were more libertarian-left (remember their old policies to decriminalize certain drugs?), but have now swung to the authoritarian-left quadrant as they clutch to identity politics, clearly influenced by those in the U.S. who have taken the lead in fostering that ideological cancer.

Whilst, like you, my views on politics has been influenced by the sutta, I feel that the party I used to vote for has shifted even more than I have. If Dave Rubin's analysis is anything to go by, it seems this phenomenon has its parallels in the U.S.

Back locally, I see the Greens vote is stagnating, and potentially even declining, and I'm pleased about this, but believe they're too pig-headed and stubborn to listen to reasons why their fixation on identity politics is doing them more harm than good. In the current climate, where even the major parties pander to Cultural Marxism, my party of choice would be the Liberal Democrats, followed by Australian Conservatives... beyond that, I'd just be grudgingly putting numbers in boxes.

Expressed more briefly, I suppose Western politics historically was primarily about economics or how to allocate wealth (where most people generally held the same sexual values). But, more recently, sexual morality appears to have become an aspect of politics. Thus, it terms of economics, I lean to the left. In terms of sexual morals, I lean to the right. By pulling the sexual heart strings of the US left-wing, the US politicians obtain votes & power to engage in right-wing international wars & support right-wing economic policies, such as laissez faire-trade & Wall St. It was Bill Clinton that started the large economic & trade deregulation, which in Australia is a right-wing phenomena.

Last edited by DooDoot on Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:41 pm, edited 3 times in total.

Expressed more briefly, I suppose Western politics historically was primarily about economics or how to allocate wealth (where most people generally held the same sexual values). But, more recently, sexual morality appears to have become an aspect of politics. Thus, it terms of economics, I lean to the left. In terms of sexual morals, I lean to the right. By pulling the sexual heart strings of the US left-wing, the US politicians obtain votes & power to engage in right-wing international wars.

4. Interestingly, I recently have come to an awareness that much of US liberal culture is Jewish in origins (diversity, 2nd wave feminism, Hollywood, pornography, etc); which would also explain the predominance of liberalism in American-Buddhism, which also has significant Jewish origins.

Generally, enjoyment of speech is the gateway to poor [results]. So it becomes the foundation for generating all negative emotional states. Jampel Pawo, The Certainty of the Diamond Mind

Just an observation lol. You just lost me, pal. Sigh, yea well everyone is their own authority, in the final analysis. I guess when we all meet in the big town park in the sky with our favorite baseball bats wrapped in duct tape and razor wire we can ask the DJ to play Midnight Oil. Just ignore me I’m just some wog hanging out in the corner.

Generally, enjoyment of speech is the gateway to poor [results]. So it becomes the foundation for generating all negative emotional states. Jampel Pawo, The Certainty of the Diamond Mind

Just an observation lol. You just lost me, pal. Sigh, yea well everyone is their own authority, in the final analysis. I guess when we all meet in the big town park in the sky with our favorite baseball bats wrapped in duct tape and razor wire we can ask the DJ to play Midnight Oil. Just ignore me I’m just some wog hanging out in the corner.

At least I was suggesting to add something of substance to the discussion. I am also a 'wog'.

Just an observation lol. You just lost me, pal. Sigh, yea well everyone is their own authority, in the final analysis. I guess when we all meet in the big town park in the sky with our favorite baseball bats wrapped in duct tape and razor wire we can ask the DJ to play Midnight Oil. Just ignore me I’m just some wog hanging out in the corner.

At least I was suggesting to add something to substance to the discussion. I am also a 'wog'.

Fine. I apologize.

Generally, enjoyment of speech is the gateway to poor [results]. So it becomes the foundation for generating all negative emotional states. Jampel Pawo, The Certainty of the Diamond Mind

Here in Australia I've actually voted Greens since 2000, and even handed out how to vote cards for the last 2 federal, and 1 state election but I won't be doing either again soon, because under their current leadership, the Greens become trapped in the thought-world of identity politics.

Same. I no longer vote for the Greens but generally I have no-one to vote for. It has become a political wilderness (although I was very pleased a minor party I voted for two elections ago blocked the Education Deregulation).

I find this somewhat ironic, because former Greens leader Bob Brown himself was gay, but he never made a big issue out of it.

Indeed. I cannot recall the issue; it was probably economic; but I dropped the Greens about 8 years ago.

Similarly, when I voted that way, it was primarily on economic grounds, specifically in terms of appropriate and progressive taxation, and using that funding for the basic building blocks of a functional society - things like schools and tertiary education, the health sector (both physical and mental), aged care, public transport infrastructure, and good public planning.

Sure. This is something that appears very alien to Americans as an intrinsic part of their society. I have rarely heard an American give a balanced view of economics, including American political commentators I like. In Australia, these things have been proven to work well & be relatively efficient.

The Greens of old were more libertarian-left (remember their old policies to decriminalize certain drugs?), but have now swung to the authoritarian-left quadrant as they clutch to identity politics, clearly influenced by those in the U.S. who have taken the lead in fostering that ideological cancer.

Yep.

Back locally, I see the Greens vote is stagnating, and potentially even declining, and I'm pleased about this, but believe they're too pig-headed and stubborn to listen to reasons why their fixation on identity politics is doing them more harm than good. In the current climate, where even the major parties pander to Cultural Marxism, my party of choice would be the Liberal Democrats, followed by Australian Conservatives... beyond that, I'd just be grudgingly putting numbers in boxes.

Thanks Paul. I'll watch the video & check out the above parties (which I have never heard of). Gotta to start work now.